Ball bearing application for seat recliner disk mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back rotationally connected at a pivot. The seat base is rotatable about the pivot between a plurality of rotational positions relative to the seat base. A recliner disk is positioned at the pivot. The recliner disk includes a guide plate coupled to the seat base and a tooth plate coupled to the seat back. A plurality of bearings is positioned between the guide and tooth plates. The plurality of bearings and the guide and tooth plates are free of an internal braking mechanism. The engagement of the guide and tooth plates with the bearings provide for substantially free rotational movement between the plurality of rotational positions. The bearings also fix the relative axial position of the guide plate relative to the tooth plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/861,410 filed Sep. 22, 2015, entitled BALL BEARINGAPPLICATION FOR SEAT RECLINER DISK MECHANISMS, the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle seating, and morespecifically, a low friction recliner mechanism for an operable vehicleseat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, vehicle seating includes an operable mechanism for rotatingthe seat back between several positions from an incline position to arecline position. Such mechanisms can typically include a release forinitiating movement of the seat back and a stop or latch for securingthe seat back in a particular reclined position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seatincludes a seat base and a seat back rotationally connected at a pivot.The seat base is rotatable about the pivot between a plurality ofrotational positions relative to the seat base. A recliner disk ispositioned at the pivot. The recliner disk includes a guide platecoupled to the seat base and a tooth plate coupled to the seat back. Aplurality of bearings is positioned between the guide and tooth plates.The plurality of bearings and the guide and tooth plates are free of aninternal braking mechanism. The engagement of the guide and tooth plateswith the bearings provide for substantially free rotational movementbetween the plurality of rotational positions. The bearings also fix therelative axial position of the guide plate relative to the tooth plate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seatincludes a seat back rotationally operable about a rotational axisrelative to a seat base, a guide plate of the seat base that rotatesabout the rotational axis relative to a tooth plate of the seat back andinternal bearings positioned between the guide and tooth plates tosecure the axial position of the tooth plate relative to the guideplate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seatincludes a guide plate coupled to a seat base. A tooth plate is coupledto a seat back. The tooth plate and the seat back rotate about arotational axis. Bearings are positioned between the guide and toothplates, wherein the bearings provide for substantially unimpededrotation of the tooth plate relative to the guide plate that is free oflateral deviation relative to the rotational axis.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a passenger cabin of a vehicleincorporating an aspect of the low friction recliner disk;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a seat frame incorporating anaspect of the low friction recliner disk with the seat back in aninclined position;

FIG. 3 is the seat frame of FIG. 2 with the seat back moved to a foldedposition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an aspect of the low frictionrecliner disk;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the low friction recliner diskof FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the low friction recliner disk ofFIG. 4 taken along line VI-VI;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a prior-art seat frameillustrating various internal forces that affect the operability of theprior-art seat frame; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aspect of a seat frameincorporating an aspect of the low friction recliner disk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive conceptsdefined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed hereinare not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly stateotherwise.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, reference numeral 10 generally refers to avehicle seat installed within a passenger cabin 12 of a vehicle 14. Thevehicle seat 10 can include a seat base 16 and a seat back 18 that isrotationally connected at a pivot 20. The seat base 16 is typicallyrotatable about the pivot 20 between a plurality of rotational positions22 relative to the seat base 16. Such positions can include, but are notlimited to, an upright position 24, a folded position 28, a reclinedposition 26 and various positions in between. A low friction reclinerdisk 30 is positioned at the pivot 20, wherein the low friction reclinerdisk 30 includes a guide plate 32 coupled to the seat base 16 and atooth plate 34 coupled to the seat back 18. A plurality of bearings 36are positioned between the guide and tooth plates 32, 34. The pluralityof bearings 36 and the guide and tooth plates 32, 34 are assembled andconfigured to be free of an internal braking mechanism. The engagementof the guide and tooth plates 32, 34 with the bearings 36 provides asubstantially free rotational movement between the plurality ofrotational positions 22. It is contemplated that the bearings 36 alsofix the relative axial position of the guide plate 32 relative to thetooth plate 34 to prevent the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34 fromdeflecting relative to one another. In this manner, the guide plate 32and the tooth plate 34 are each configured to be maintained within aparticular common rotational axis 38 that extends through both the guideplate 32 and the tooth plate 34. Additionally, the bearings 36 disposedbetween the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34 are positioned tooperate between the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34 along the samerotational axis as the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, it is contemplated that the guide plate 32can include a first groove 50 within which the bearings 36 are disposed.In this manner, the first groove 50 defines a track within which thebearings 36 travel as the seat back 18 is rotated between the pluralityof rotational positions 22. It is also contemplated that the tooth plate34 can also include a second groove 52 that substantially opposes thefirst groove 50. The first and second grooves 50, 52 are configured todefine a bearing channel 54 within which the bearings 36 are disposed tosecure the guide and tooth plates 32, 34 in a fixed axial positionrelative to one another, to prevent deviation of either one or both ofthe guide and tooth plates 32, 34 away from the common rotational axis38 of both the guide and tooth plates 32, 34.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, according to various embodiments, the lowfriction recliner disk 30 can also include a guide ring 60 that isdisposed proximate the bearing channel 54. In such an embodiment, theguide ring 60 can position each of the plurality of bearings 36 in aspaced relationship within the bearing channel 54. It is contemplatedthat the guide ring 60 can be configured to dispose the bearings 36 atequally spaced intervals throughout the bearing channel 54.Alternatively, the bearings 36 can be spaced at various intervalsthroughout the bearing channel 54. Such spacing configurations caninclude, but are not limited to, sets of bearing pairs spaced throughoutthe bearing channel 54, irregular spacing, numbered sets of bearings 36,combinations thereof, and other similar spacing configurations of thebearings 36.

According to the various embodiments, the guide ring 60 can include aplurality of bearing receptacles 70. Each bearing receptacle 70 of theplurality of bearing receptacles 70 is configured to receive acorresponding bearing 36 of the plurality of bearings 36. In thismanner, each bearing 36 is configured to slidably engage the respectivebearing receptacle 70 to allow the bearing 36 to slidably rotate withinthe bearing receptacle 70. Accordingly, as the low friction reclinerdisk 30 is operated, and the tooth plate 34 rotates with respect to theguide plate 32, the bearings 36 roll through the bearing channel 54 andare guided by the corresponding bearing receptacles 70 in order tomaintain the spacing of each of the bearings 36 as the low frictionrecliner disk 30 is operated to move the seat back 18 through theplurality of rotational positions 22.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-5, the guide plate 32 that is typicallyengaged with the seat base 16 of the vehicle seat 10 can include aplurality of outwardly extending protrusions 80 that are configured tobe received by a portion of the seat base 16. In this manner, the seatbase 16 is configured to receive the guide plate 32 and is substantiallyretained therein to secure the low friction recliner disk 30 within aparticular position relative to the seat base 16. The guide plate 32 canalso include a plurality of outwardly extending notches 82 that areconfigured to secure the guide plate 32 in a particular fixed rotationalposition with respect to the seat base 16. In this manner, as the seatback 18 is rotated between the plurality of rotational positions 22, theguide plate 32 maintains a substantially fixed axial position withrespect to the seat base 16 along the common rotational axis 38. Theguide plate 32 and the low friction recliner disk 30 in general can befurther attached to the seat base 16 through various fasteners 84 thatcan extend through a central aperture 86 of the low friction reclinerdisk 30. Such fasteners 84 can include, but are not limited to, bolts,clips, screws, rivets, adhesives, welds, combinations thereof and othersimilar fasteners or fastening mechanisms 84. The fastener 84 used tosecure the guide plate 32 to the seat base 16 is configured to securethe guide plate 32 to the seat base 16 while also allowing the toothplate 34 to rotate relative to the guide plate 32 and also allowing thebearings 36 to rotate within the bearing channel 54. In this manner, thebearings 36 provide a substantially low friction engagement between thetooth plate 34 and the guide plate 32. This low-friction configurationsubstantially allows the movement of the seat back 18 between theplurality of rotational positions 22 to be smooth and substantially freeof friction-based impediments.

According to the various embodiments, in order to maintain a low levelof friction between the tooth plate 34 and the guide plate 32, the lowfriction recliner disk 30 can be made to be substantially free orcompletely free of an internal braking mechanism disposed proximate thebearings 36 or elsewhere in the low friction recliner disk 30. With nointernal braking mechanism included within the bearings 36, or near thebearings 36, the bearings 36 are substantially free to rotate betweenthe tooth plate 34 and the guide plate 32 to allow for the substantiallyfriction-free movement of the seat back 18 relative to the seat base 16.When the low braking mechanism is included within the low frictionrecliner disk 30, various external braking mechanisms 100 and rotationalsecuring mechanisms of the vehicle seat 10 are disposed within variousalternate portions of the seat base 16 and/or the seat back 18, and awayfrom the low friction recliner disk 30, as exemplified in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, it is contemplated that the guide plate 32can also include various protrusions 80 and/or notches 82 that extendfrom or are recessed within the tooth plate 34 for attaching to aportion of the seat back 18 to secure the tooth plate 34 to the seatback 18. Similar to the fastening engagement between the guide plate 32and the seat base 16, the engagement between the guide plate 32 and theseat back 18 can include various fasteners and/or fastening mechanisms84 that can include, but are not limited to, screws, bolts, clips,rivets, or other similar fasteners 84 that are extended through thecentral aperture 86 of the low friction recliner disk 30, as well asadhesives, welds, and other similar features that are configured tosubstantially fix the position of the guide plate 32 with respect to theseat back 18 at the pivot 20 of the vehicle seat 10. Combinations of thevarious fasteners/fastening mechanisms 84 can also be used.

Referring again to the various embodiments as exemplified in FIGS. 4-6,during operation of the low friction recliner disk 30, the rotation ofthe tooth plate 34 during movement of the seat back 18 is typically at afirst rotational speed 110. The first rotational speed 110 can be thesame as, or similar to, the rotational speed of the seat back 18relative to the seat base 16. This operation of the tooth plate 34 atthe first rotational speed 110 results in the plurality of bearings 36and the guide ring 60 being rotated relative to the seat base 16 at asecond rotational speed 112 that is typically less than the firstrotational speed 110. The second rotational speed 112 can be determinedby several factors that can include, but are not limited to, the size ofthe bearings 36, the depth of the bearing channel 54, the width of thebearing channel 54, the configuration of the bearings 36 (spherical,cylindrical, combinations thereof, etc.), the number of bearings 36, thedepth of the guide ring 60, combinations of these factors, and othersimilar design considerations.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, it is contemplated that the engagementbetween the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34 can include the guideplate 32 extending over at least a portion of the tooth plate 34. Insuch an embodiment, the first groove 50 is defined within aninward-facing surface 120 of the guide plate 32 and the second groove 52is defined within an outward-facing surface 122 of the tooth plate 34.In this configuration, the bearing 36 is disposed within the bearingchannel 54 and between the inward-facing surface 120 of the guide plate32 and the outward-facing surface 122 of the tooth plate 34. In thismanner, the inclusion of the bearings 36 substantially secures the guideplate 32 and tooth plate 34 in a particular axial position such that theguide plate 32 and tooth plate 34 can rotate, relative to one another,about the common rotational axis 38 of the low friction recliner disk30, which is typically centrally positioned. It is contemplated that theinclusion of the bearings 36 within the bearing channel 54 can provide asubstantially secure fit between the guide plate 32 and tooth plate 34such that deflection such as wobble, vibration, twisting, bending, andother similar deflections can be minimized.

It is contemplated that the bearings 36 substantially secure the guideplate 32 relative to the tooth plate 34. In order to remove the guideplate 32 and tooth plate 34 from their secure axial engagement andsubstantially friction free rotational engagement, one or both of theguide plate 32 and tooth plate 34 must be deflected or biased around thebearings 36. Depending on the size and number of bearings 36 and thedepth of the bearing channel 54, this close-fitting engagement can besubstantially secure and difficult to disengage.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, it is contemplated that various lubricantsor other friction-limiting materials can be disposed proximate thebearings 36 to maintain a low-friction configuration between the guideplate 32 and tooth plate 34 that is provided for by the inclusion of thebearings 36 within the bearing channel 54. Such a lubricating materialcan include, but is not limited to, oil, grease, graphite, combinationsthereof, or other similar lubricating materials.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1-6, the vehicle seat 10 can include aseat back 18 that is rotationally operable about the common rotationalaxis 38 relative to the seat base 16. According to the variousembodiments, the common rotational axis 38 can extend through the pivot20 of the vehicle seat 10 and extends between the left and right sides130, 132 of the vehicle seat 10. It is also contemplated that the guideplate 32 of the seat base 16 can rotate about the common rotational axis38 relative to the tooth plate 34 of the seat back 18. Internal bearings36 can be positioned between the guide and tooth plates 32, 34 to securethe axial position of the guide plate 32 relative to the tooth plate 34such that each of the guide plate 32 and tooth plate 34 can rotaterelative to one another along the common rotational axis 38. While thelow friction reclining disk is described herein as allowing the toothplate 34 and guide plate 32 to rotate relative to one another, it iscontemplated that the guide plate 32 coupled to the seat base 16 can beheld with a substantially fixed position within the seat base 16. Inthis manner, the tooth plate 34, fixed to the seat back 18, rotatesabout the common rotational axis 38 as the seat back 18 is rotatedbetween the plurality of rotational positions 22. It is alsocontemplated that the guide plate 32 and tooth plate 34 can be switchedsuch that the guide plate 32 is attached to the seat back 18 and thetooth plate 34 is attached to the seat base 16. Additionally, while itis contemplated that typically the guide plate 32 extends over a portionof the tooth plate 34, the reverse is also possible according to variousembodiments, where the tooth plate 34 extends over at least a portion ofthe guide plate 32 and where the first groove 50 is defined within anoutward-facing surface 122 of the guide plate 32 and wherein the secondgroove 52 is defined within an inward-facing surface 120 of the toothplate 34, with the bearing channel 54 defined within the first andsecond grooves 50, 52 and the bearings 36 disclosed within the bearingchannel 54.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is contemplated that each of thebearing receptacles 70 defined within the guide ring 60 can beconfigured to extend greater than 180° about the corresponding bearing36. In this manner, the guide ring 60 can be substantially secured tothe bearings 36 as the bearings 36 move through the bearing channel 54when the seat back 18 is moved between the plurality of rotationalpositions 22. It is contemplated that where the bearings 36 arespherical members, the bearing receptacle 70 can be a substantiallycircular member that extends more than 180° around the correspondingspherical bearing 36. Alternatively, in configurations where the variousbearings 36 are substantially cylindrical, each bearing receptacle 70 ofthe guide ring 60 can be a substantially rectangular receptacle thatextends around the cylindrical bearing 36 in a direction substantiallyparallel with the rotating axis of each corresponding cylindricalbearing 36. Regardless of the configuration of the bearings 36, theconfiguration of the guide ring 60 is configured to position each of theplurality of bearings 36 in a particular spaced position relative toeach of the other bearings 36. Accordingly, as the low friction reclinerdisk 30 is operated, each of the bearings 36 is maintained by the guidering 60 in the predetermined spacing positions of each of the bearings36.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, it is contemplatedthat the bearings 36 can be set in a substantially fixed position inrelation to either the guide plate 32 or the tooth plate 34. In such anembodiment, the inclusion of the guide ring 60 may not be necessary asthe bearings 36 can be held in their particular spacing positions bytheir engagement with the guide plate 32 or the tooth plate 34,depending upon the configuration of the low friction recliner disk 30.In this embodiment, where the bearings 36 are attached to the guideplate 32, the tooth plate 34 rotates about the guide plate 32 at thefirst rotational speed 110 and engages the bearings 36 at the bearingchannel 54. The bearings 36 are maintained in engagement with the guideplate 32 or the tooth plate 34. Accordingly, the bearings 36 remain inthe substantially fixed position relative to the guide plate 32 and thetooth plate 34 rotates about the guide plate 32 and the bearings 36 todefine the plurality of rotational positions 22 of the seat back 18. Theuse of laterally fixed and rotational bearings 36 can also beimplemented in the tooth plate 34, where the tooth plate 34 and thebearings 36 are configured to rotate about the guide plate 32 to definethe plurality of rotational positions 22 of the seat back 18.

According to various alternate embodiments of the disclosure, it iscontemplated that the guide ring 60 can include a thickened circularmember with guide channels disposed on either side of the guide ring 60.In such an embodiment, it is contemplated that the guide ring 60 candefine dual bearing channels 54, where one bearing channel 54 is definedbetween the guide ring 60 and the tooth plate 34, and a second guidechannel is defined between the guide ring 60 and the guide plate 32,with two sets of bearings 36 disposed within each of the guide channels.Such a dual bearing configuration of the low friction recliner disk 30can, in various design configurations, reduce the friction coefficientof the low friction recliner disk 30 to even more minimal levels.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6 and 8, it is contemplated that the vehicleseat 10 can include a tooth plate 34 that is coupled to a portion of theseat back 18, and a guide plate 32 that is coupled to a portion of theseat base 16, wherein the guide plate 32 and the seat back 18 rotateabout a common rotational axis 38 at a pivot 20 of the vehicle seat 10.According to the various embodiments, bearings 36 can also be positionedbetween the guide and tooth plates 32, 34, wherein the bearings 36provide for substantially unimpeded rotation of the tooth plate 34relative to the guide plate 32, such that the operation of the toothplate 34 is substantially free of lateral deviation relative to thecommon rotational axis 38 of the guide plate 32 and tooth plate 34.

Referring now to the prior-art seat of FIG. 7, in various vehicle seats,a certain amount of flexion can occur as the seat back 18 is placed inthe various rotational positions 22. This flexion results inconventional recliner disks experiencing a greater amount of frictionand catching as the components of the conventional recliner disk rotate.This additional friction is due in part to the configuration ofconventional recliner disks. The portion of a conventional recliner diskthat engages a seat back 18 is afforded a certain amount of play orwobble during operation of the portion of a conventional seat. Suchwobble or deflection can result in increased friction in the operationof the seat back 18 as the seat back 18 undergoes increased flexion andmoment forces. Sticking and/or other impediments to smooth operation ofthe seat back 18 relative to the seat base 16 can also occur during useof the conventional recliner disk.

Referring again to the prior art seat of FIG. 7, the conventionalrecliner disk is typically configured such that the plate proximate theseat back 18 slides relative to the plate proximate the seat base 16 andthe engagement between the two plates is simply a sliding engagement. Inorder to provide for such sliding engagement, at least a minimal gapmust be present between the two plates to allow for the slidingengagement. This minimal gap also provides for the adverse deflection ofwobble or vibration during operation of the conventional recliner disk.This wobble is accentuated as the seat back 18 experiences the flexionand moment forces during operation of the seat back 18 between theplurality of rotational positions 22. The wobble of the conventionalrecliner disk allows for components of the conventional recliner disk toengage, grind, stick, or otherwise experience a friction engagement. Assuch, the rotational operation of the conventional recliner disks isless smooth and less efficient.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 and 8, the wobble described above as to theconventional recliner disks is a condition of the frame of the vehicleseat 10. Accordingly, when the low friction recliner disk 30 isimplemented, the wobble described above will still be apparent. However,the inclusion of the plurality of bearings 36 in the bearing channel 54between the tooth plate 34 and the guide plate 32, provides asubstantially secure fit between the tooth plate 34 and the guide plate32 to prevent such axial deviation away from the common rotational axis38 of the guide plate 32 and the tooth plate 34. In this manner, theconfiguration of the low friction recliner disk 30 counteracts theflexion and moment forces of the seat back 18 to provide a substantiallysmooth operation of the seat back 18 between the plurality of rotationalpositions 22. In this manner, the engagement between the guide plate 32and the tooth plate 34 with the bearings 36 disposed therebetweensubstantially secures the tooth plate 34 relative to the guide plate 32and provides a substantially friction-free rotational operation of thetooth plate 34 and the plurality of bearings 36 about the commonrotational axis 38 relative to the guide plate 32. This configurationsubstantially limits the amount of friction experienced by the lowfriction recliner disk 30 during a period of seat back 18 wobble andprovides for substantially smooth and convenient operation of the seatback 18 between the plurality of rotational positions 22. Additionally,because the low friction recliner disk 30 does not include a brakingmechanism, according to the various embodiments, the configuration ofthe tooth plate 34, guide plate 32 and bearings 36 receives minimalinterference from additional mechanisms that may impede the operation ofthe bearings 36 between the tooth plate 34 and guide plate 32. As such,increases in the friction coefficient of the system as a result of suchmechanisms can be minimized.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-6 and 8, the inclusion of the bearings 36that roll within the bearing channel 54 between the guide plate 32 andtooth plate 34 eliminates the need for a gap in the system such that thetooth plate 34 and guide plate 32 can be tightly engaged through theintermediary engagement of the plurality of bearings 36 in the bearingchannel 54 defined between the guide plate 32 and tooth plate 34.Accordingly, the substantial elimination of any appreciable gaps betweenthe engagement of the tooth plate 34 and the bearings 36 and the guideplate 32 and the bearings 36 provides for the substantially secure fitbetween the tooth plate 34 and guide plate 32 that minimizes the amountof deviation away from the common rotational axis 38.

According to the various embodiments, the various components of the lowfriction recliner disk 30 can be made of any one of various materialsthat can include, but are not limited to, metal, metal alloys, plastic,composite, polymers, ceramics, wood, combinations thereof, and othersimilar materials. It is also contemplated that the vehicle seat 10implementing the low friction recliner disk 30 can include two lowfriction recliner disks 30 on either side of the vehicle seat 10.Additionally, it is contemplated that the low friction recliner disk 30can be used in various seating configurations. Such seatingconfigurations can include, but are not limited to, Captain's chairs,single person vehicle seats, bench seats, 50/50 split seats, 60/40 splitseats, 40/20/40 split seats, and other similar seating configurations.It is also contemplated that the low friction recliner disk 30 can alsobe used in seat bases 16 that rotate upwards, such as configurationswhere the seat base 16 moves upwards to allow for access to certainportions of the passenger cabin 12 or storage areas proximate thepassenger cabin 12.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat base and a seatback rotationally connected at a pivot, the seat base rotatable aboutthe pivot between a plurality of rotational positions relative to theseat base; a recliner disk positioned at the pivot, wherein the reclinerdisk includes a first plate coupled to the seat base and a second platecoupled to the seat back; and a bearing positioned between the first andsecond plates, the bearing and the first and second plates being free ofan internal braking mechanism, wherein engagement of the first andsecond plates with the bearing provides for substantially freerotational movement between the plurality of rotational positions, thebearing fixing a relative axial position of the first plate relative tothe second plate; wherein; the first plate includes a first groovewithin which the bearing is disposed, wherein the first groove defines atrack within which the bearing travels as the seat back is rotatedbetween the plurality of rotational positions; and the second plateincludes a second groove that opposes the first groove, wherein thefirst and second grooves define a bearing channel within which thebearing is disposed to secure the first and second plates in a fixedaxial position relative to one another.
 2. The vehicle seat of claim 1,wherein the first plate is a guide plate that is coupled to the seatbase.
 3. The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the second plate is atooth plate that is coupled to the seat back.
 4. The vehicle seat ofclaim 1, further comprising: a guide ring disposed proximate the bearingchannel, wherein the guide ring positions the bearing within the bearingchannel.
 5. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the guide ring includesa bearing receptacle, wherein the bearing receptacle receives thebearing, wherein the bearing is configured to slidably engage thebearing receptacle to allow the bearing to rotate within the bearingreceptacle.
 6. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein rotation of thesecond plate at a first rotational speed causes the bearing and theguide ring to rotate relative to the bearing channel at a secondrotational speed that is less than the first rotational speed.
 7. Thevehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the first plate extends over at least aportion of the second plate, wherein the first groove is defined withinan inward-facing surface of the first plate and wherein the secondgroove is defined within an outward-facing surface of the second plate.8. The vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein the bearing is one of aplurality of bearings that are equally spaced within the bearingchannel.
 9. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat back rotationally operableabout a rotational axis relative to a seat base; a first plate of theseat base that rotates about the rotational axis relative to a secondplate of the seat back; and internal bearings positioned within abearing channel defined between first and second grooves of the firstand second plates, respectively, to secure an axial position of thefirst plate relative to the second plate.
 10. The vehicle seat of claim9, wherein the second groove opposes the first groove to define thebearing channel within which the internal bearings are disposed tosecure the first and second plates in a fixed axial position relative toone another.
 11. The vehicle seat of claim 10, further comprising: aguide ring disposed between the first and second plates, wherein theguide ring positions each of the internal bearings within the bearingchannel.
 12. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein the guide ringincludes a plurality of bearing receptacles, wherein each bearingreceptacle of the plurality of bearing receptacles receives acorresponding bearing of the internal bearings, wherein thecorresponding bearing is configured to slidably engage the bearingreceptacle to allow the corresponding bearing to rotate within thebearing receptacle.
 13. The vehicle seat of claim 11, wherein rotationof the second plate at a first rotational speed defines rotation of theinternal bearings and the guide ring relative to the bearing channel ata second rotational speed that is less than the first rotational speed.14. The vehicle seat of claim 10, wherein the first plate extends overat least a portion of the second plate, wherein the first groove isdefined within an inward-facing surface of the first plate and whereinthe second groove is defined within an outward-facing surface of thesecond plate.
 15. The vehicle seat of claim 9, wherein the first plateis a guide plate and the second plate is a tooth plate.
 16. A vehicleseat comprising: first and second plates coupled to a seat base and aseat back, respectively, wherein the second plate and the seat backrotate about an axis; and bearings disposed in a bearing channel definedbetween the first and second plates, wherein the bearings provide forsubstantially unimpeded rotation of the second plate relative to thefirst plate that is free of lateral deviation relative to the axis. 17.The vehicle seat of claim 16, wherein the first plate, seat back andbearings rotationally operate about a rotational axis of the secondplate.
 18. The vehicle seat of claim 16, wherein the bearing channel isdefined by first and second grooves of the first and second plates,respectively, and wherein the bearings are disposed within the first andsecond grooves to secure the first and second plates in a fixed axialposition relative to one another and relative to the axis.
 19. Thevehicle seat of claim 16, further comprising: a guide ring disposedbetween the first and second plates, wherein the guide ring positionseach of the plurality of bearings within the bearing channel.
 20. Thevehicle seat of claim 19, wherein the guide ring includes a plurality ofbearing receptacles, wherein each bearing receptacle of the plurality ofbearing receptacles receives a corresponding bearing, wherein thecorresponding bearing is configured to slidably engage the bearingreceptacle to allow the corresponding bearing to rotate within thebearing receptacle.